Sacred ibis

Class: Birds

Order: Pelecaniformes

Family: Threskiornithidae

Weight: 1.2–1.5 kg

Body length: 65–75 cm, wingspan – about 112–124 cm

Coloration: The sacred ibis has white plumage with black wingtips and a black head. The head and upper neck are featherless, giving the bird a distinctive appearance. Its beak is long, curved downward, and black.

Age of sexual maturity: 3–4 years

Incubation period: 21–23 days

Lifespan: up to 20 years in the wild, up to 30 years in captivity

Habitat: The sacred ibis inhabits sub-Saharan Africa, Madagascar, and parts of Iraq. It was also once found in Egypt, where it was highly revered. These birds prefer swamps, coastal areas, and wetlands.

Diet: Sacred ibises feed on a variety of food, including fish, small amphibians, insects, carrion, and waste. They sometimes eat the eggs and chicks of other birds.

Did you know?

• In Ancient Egypt, ibises were worshiped as sacred birds, symbolizing the god Thoth, the deity of wisdom, knowledge, and writing. They were depicted on many Egyptian artifacts and often mummified and placed in tombs.
• Sacred ibises play an important role in the ecosystem by cleaning the environment of carrion and waste, helping to prevent the spread of disease.
• These birds are social and nest in colonies, often alongside other bird species like herons and storks.
• Sacred ibises are highly adaptable. In some areas where they were introduced, such as France and Italy, their populations have grown rapidly, causing problems for the local ecosystem.
• Unlike many other birds, sacred ibises are not afraid of humans and often gather near human settlements, especially where food waste is available.